My research for the Parks Research Lab has continued to excite me. Our projects vary each week, and these past two weeks have been particularly rewarding. These projects are for the public to enjoy, which is thrilling because I know that these projects will help William & Mary’s students.

I am now halfway through my time as a Research Assistant for Dr. Ibes at the Parks Research Lab (PRL). As is evident from my abstract, Alexis, my research partner, and I are conducting research on ecotherapy, which is the study of how nature and greenspace is healing to human mental and physical health. Our goal for the summer is to promote ecotherapy to local health professionals. Our research involves compiling scientific data about nature’s healing effects, so that health professionals can prescribe nature to patients. We are also compiling information about local parks, so that doctor’s patients can find parks tailored to their needs.